Selecting apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus to choose one or more of a plurality of destination bins and to divert one or more sheets into the selected bins. One of a plurality of devices is to be selected for operation to divert sheets into the selected bin. The sheets are carried by a conveyor, and a diverter at each bin extends into the path of the sheets to divert the sheets into the bin. A diverter is usually mechanical in nature, and is part of a mechanism known to the art as a gate. Each diverter is controlled by a plurality of tumblers which must be aligned to allow diverter operation. Each tumbler is movable into one of two positions by a drive device. A notch on the tumbler surface is either in operation position, or not. All must be in operation position to cause the diverter to be active. The drive device for each diverter is operated from a remote control station to select the proper diverter at the proper time.

United States Patent Erwin F Schuln SELECTING APPARATUS 16 Claims, 8 Drawing Figsf "Field of Search.

Addressograph-Muitigraph Corporation Cleveland. Ohio Primary b mmine'r Rotter! W Michell 4.\'SlSIanl|".Xdmlm' I R Oremland AIIOI'HEU Russelll. Rout and RayS Pyle ABSTRACT: An apparatus to choose one or more of a plurality of destination bins and to divert one or more sheets into the selected bins. One of a plurality of devices is to be selected for operation to divert sheets into the selected bin.

The sheets are carried by a conveyor. and a diverter at each bin extends into the path of the sheets to divert the sheets into the bin. A diverter is usually mechanical in nature, and is part of a mechanism known to the art as a gate.

Each diverter is controlled by a plurality of tumblers which must be aligned to allow diverter operation. Each tumbler is movable into one of two positions by a drive device. A notch on the tumbler surface is either in operation position. or not. All must be in operation position to cause the diverter to be active The drive device for each diverter is operated from a remote control station to select the proper diverter at the proper time.

PATENTEDJUNZZISTII 3,586,311

sum 2 BF 3 BY 1N TOR Q 5 yQ.

SELECTING APPARATUS The present invention relates to an apparatus having a selector mechanism for setting a selected one of a plurality of devices, such as gates in a sheet distributing apparatus, to a first condition while the nonselected devices are set to or maintained in a second condition.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus for distributing apparatus sheets to a plurality of receiving bins in which mechanical operators are set in accordance with a permutation code to mechanically operate decoding elements associated with sheet gates, on gate for each bin, to select a bin into which a sheet is to be diverted.

An object of the present invention is a new and improved apparatus including mechanism for selecting and operating one device of a group of devices, such as one gate of a group of sheet diverting gates, in which apparatus, a plurality of mechanical operators are set in accordance with a permutation code to mechanically code elements associated with each device to be selectively actuated, each device being set to a first position, such as a sheet diverting position, when its code elements are set to a particular permutation and is maintained in a different position for other permutations, the devices being actuated between positions only when the corresponding code elements are moved to or from the particular permutation for effecting a setting of the device to its first position.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus including a plurality of devices, particularly gate devices for diverting sheets from a path of travel into corresponding receiving bins, in which apparatus a binary number is assigned to each device and electromagnets corresponding to each digit of the number are operated to set corresponding mechanical operators in one of two positions to set code elements associated with each device, each operator setting a corresponding code element at each device and the code elements each having a recess therein with each group of code elements at a device having a particular permutation for which the recesses therein are aligned to form a receiving space for a control member for actuating the device.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus or mechanism for selectively operating a sheet gate or other device in which a control member for the gate is biased to ride on a plurality of code elements each having a recess therein and movable to a plurality of positions with the recesses in the elements being aligned for a particular permutation of the elements to receive the control member, the bias on the control member causing it to move into the aligned recesses to set the device in one position and the code elements camming the control member to move the gate to a second position when the code elements are moved to a different permutation.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus, such as a sheet handling apparatus, in which each of a plurality of bistable mechanical mechanisms are actuated to two possible positions by the energization of an electromagnet corresponding to the position, each bistable mechanical mechanism setting corresponding code elements, one for each device of the group to select one device for actuation.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus in which mechanical operators, preferably wires, are each settable to either of two positions by the energization of one or the other of two corresponding electromagnets associated with each operator to select one of a group of devices for actuation, the operators each being connected to operate one of a group of decoding elements associated with each device and the device being actuated when the decoding elements of the associated group are set to a particular permutation.

Further advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description made to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the present invention for subject matter;

FIG. 1 illustrates a sheet distributing apparatus embodying the present invention; FIG. 2 is a fragmentary showing of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view taken approximately along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view looking from approximately along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a code mechanism used in the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of a portion of the code mechanism;

FIG. 7 is a detailed view ofa portion of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatical view of the electrical part of the control system for selecting a sheet gate.

While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various types of apparatuses to set any selected one or more of a plurality of devices in a first condition while the others are maintained in or set in a different condition, it is particularly i useful in a sheet distributing apparatus for selecting a sheet gate for diverting a sheet from a sheet path into an associated bin or receiving tray and is herein shown as embodied in such an apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, sheets to be distributed are delivered in sequence to a conveyor 12 and are transported thereby to a conveyor 13, which in turn transports the sheets to the top of a vertical conveyor 15. The sheets are moved from the top of conveyor 13 to conveyor 15 by a feed roll 18 and guided by sheet guides 20. The conveyor 15 moves the sheets along a sheet path which extends downwardly past a plurality of vertically stacked bins 22, each bin having a gate 23 associated therewith for diverting a sheet from the sheet path into the corresponding bin.

In the illustrated embodiment the conveyor 15 comprises a plurality of spaced belts 24, (see FIG. 3) trained around top and bottom horizontal rotatable shafts 26, 27 respectively as best shown in FIG. 1. The conveyor 15 is driven by a motor 30 which drives the bottom shaft 27 of the conveyor 30 through a belt drive system 31.

The sheets transported by conveyor 15 are held against the conveyor belts 24 by spring biased rollers 34. Rollers 34 are carried by brackets 35 pivoted on horizontal shafts 36 spaced vertically from each other along the conveyor 15. The horizontal shafts 36 for supporting the brackets 35 and rollers 34 are supported by opposed vertical frame members 40. Each of the roller brackets 35 is biased by a spring 35a (see FIG. 2) which hooks over an adjacent shaft 37, extends around the adjacent shaft 36 on which the bracket 35 is mounted and engages an adjacent shaft 38 for supporting the rollers 34 on the bracket 35. The movement of each bracket 35 toward the adjacent belt 24 is limited by the engagement of a portion 39 on the bracket 35 with the adjacent shaft 37.

The gates 23 for diverting sheets into the bins 22 are supported between the opposed vertical frame members 40 adjacent to conveyor 15 with each gate being positioned adjacent the entrance to the bin with which the gate is associated, As shown in FIG. 2 and 3, the shafts 36 and 37 for the spring rollers 34 and the gates 23 alternate with each other for the height of the conveyor 15.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the gates 23 has a plurality of sheet diverting portions 44 spaced along the length of the gate These portions are normally disposed clear of the path of a sheet being transported downwardly by the conveyor 15. The gate members, however, are mounted on respective horizontal shafts 45 rockably supported in the frame members 40. The shafts 45 can be each rotated to rock the respective gates from a position where the sheet diverting portions 44 thereon are clear of the sheet path along conveyor 15 to a position where they project between the spaced belts 24 of the adjacent conveyor 15 to divert the sheet into the associated bin. See the phantom outline of the top gate in FIG. 2.

At one side of the apparatus, (see FIGS. 4 and 5 together) the shafts 45 for supporting the gates 23 extend beyond one of the frame members 40 and each has a crank 50 mounted on its outer end. Each of the cranks 50 is connected by a link 52 and pin 52a to one end of a rocker arm 53, which in turn, is mounted at its other end for rocking movement about a pivot pin 54 supported on a subframe member 550. The link 52 for each gate is pivotable relative to the corresponding rocker arm 53 and to the crank 50 so that the crank member 50 is moved by the rocking of the rocker arm 53 to rock the associated gate 23 between sheet diverting and sheet nondivert ing positions.

A code mechanism 56 (FIG. is associated with each rocker arm 53 and operates to set the rocker arm and as sociated gate either in a sheet diverting or sheet nondiverting position. Each code mechanism 56 comprises a plurality of code elements 58, four in the illustrated embodiment, the elements shown being levers in function, but which are made as disclike tumblers for practical manufacturing purposes.

The tumblers of each code mechanism are rockahly supported on a corresponding shaft 60 so that each can be shifted between a plurality of positions, two positions in the preferred and illustrated embodiment.

The code tumbler elements 58 each have a recess notch 62 therein and the recess notches in the code tumblers 58 for a gate are aligned for a particular permutation of the tumblers. When this occurs, a control member or rod 65 carried by the corresponding rocker arm 53 is moved into the aligned recesses by a spring bias acting on the rocker arm 53. The bias is provided in the illustrated and preferred embodiment by a torsion spring 67. The spring 67 is fastened to the subframe member 550 at one end and has its other end hooked around rocker arm 53 of the code mechanism. When one of the control rods 65 is received in the recesses of the corresponding code mechanism the corresponding sheet gate is operated to a sheet-diverting position.

When tumblers ofa code mechanism are set to the permutation where corresponding control rod 65 is disposed in the aligned recess, the shifting of any one of the code tumblers 58 from its position sets up a different permutation for the tumblers and will cam the control rod 65 out of the recesses and rock the corresponding arm 53 against the bias of its spring 67 to move the corresponding gate to a sheet nondiverting position. As long as the tumblers are not shifted to the permutation in which the tumblers are aligned, therod 65 will ride on the periphery of at least one tumbler to prevent it from moving to a sheet-diverting position.

In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, there are four code tumblers 58 for each of the gates. Each of these is set in one of two positions by mechanical operators 70, 71, 72, 73. See FIG. 5. In this preferred embodiment, the operators 70 73 are wires with each wire being connected to one code element 58 at each gate. Accordingly, when one of the wires is shifted to either of its two possible positions, one tumbler at each of the gates is shifted to a position corresponding to the position of the operator. For example, the operator 70 may be shifted between an up position and a down position to shift tumblers connected thereto, one at each gate, between first and second positions. For the sake of reference, the tumblers 58 operated by the wire 70 have been designed by the reference character 58a. The up and down positions of the operators may be arbitrarily designated as the 1 position and the 0 position respectively of the operator.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the wire operators 70-73 may each be connected to the tumblers operated thereby by means of plugs 74 attached to the wire operator and received in a slot in the periphery of the tumbler. In the illustrated embodiment, the operators 70, 71, 72, 73 are disposed on the opposite sides of the tumblers from the control rods 65 and the tumblers each have a peripheral groove 75 therein through which the corresponding wire operators pass.

The operators 70, 71, 72, 73 are part of respective bistable mechanical mechanisms 76, 77, 78 and 79, each of which includes upper and lower rocker members. The wire operator of each bistable mechanical mechanism is connected to one end of the corresponding upper rocker member and the upper rocker members have been designated by the same reference numeral as the corresponding wire operators but with an a applied thereto. The bottom ends of the wire operators are each connected to one end of a corresponding lower rocker member which has been given the same designation as the cor responding wire operator but with the letter I) appended thereto. The upper and lower rocker members for the wire operators are each rockable on respective shafts 80, 811 which are supported in the frame member 55 and extend traversely of the rocker members supported thereby.

The upper and lower rocker members of each bistable mechanism are also interconnected by a second wire 84 which extends between the ends of the upper and lower rocker members opposite to the ends to which the wire operators 70, 71, 72, 73 are connected. Each of the wire operators and their corresponding wire 84 together with the corresponding upper and lower rocker member constitute a bistable mechanical mechanism which can be set in the position where the wire operator is in its 1 position or a position where the wire operator is in the 0 position.

Each bistable mechanism and its wire operator can be shifted between its 1 position and its 0 position by energizing one or the other of a pair of electromagnets associated with the wire. The electromagnets associated with the wire 70 have been designated by the reference numerals a, 90b, see FIG. 4, those associated with the wire operator 71 have been designated by the reference numeral 91a, 9112, those associated with the wire operator 72 have been designated 92a, 92b, and those associated with'the wire operator 73 have been designated with the reference numeral 93a, 93b. The electromagnets for the operators 70, 71, 72 and 73 are schematically shown in FIG. 8.

lfan operator is to be set in its 1 position, the corresponding electromagnet with an 0 applied thereto is energized, while if it is to be set in a 0 position the corresponding electromagnet with a b applied thereto is energized. These electromagnets will be sometimes referred to as a electromagnets and b electromagnets.

Each pair of electromagnets for shifting an operator are disposed in a coaxially aligned relationship as is best shown in FIG. 4 and effect the operation of an armature 96 disposed between the electromagnets of each pair. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the upper magnet of each pair is the magnet which has the a applied thereto while the lower magnet is the magnet which has the b applied thereto as part of its reference numeral. Referring to FIG. 4 if the electromagnet 90a is energized, the armature 96 is moved upwardly to shift the wire operator 70 to its position. The wire operator 70 passes through the armature 96 for the electromagnet 90a, 90b and blocks 98 fastened to the wire on each side of the armature 96 constrain the wire operator to move with the armature 96.

As mentioned above each of the gates have four code tumblers associated therewith. It will also be appreciated by reference to FIG. 5 that when the wire operators are shifted, the control rod 65 of each decoding group will basically engage each of the code tumblers at one of two positions depending upon whether the wire operator and the tumbler are in a 1 position or in a 0 position. The recess in each tumbler disc for receiving the rod will be located at one position or the other depending upon the permutation setting which has been selected for effecting operation of the particular gate. If, for example, the permutation setting for the top gate shown in FIG. 4 is 0001, the operator 70 must be set to a I position which is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, and the other operators 71, 72 and 73 must be set in a 0 position. Consequently, the wire operator 70 is moved to its up position and the wire operators 71, 72, 73 are moved to their down positions to effecting the setting of the tumblers for the top gate to effect alignment of the recesses in the code tumblers and operation of the gate. When the top gate 44 has its tumblers aligned to receive the associated control rod 65, the other gates will not have their tumblers so aligned. For example, the tumbler 58a for the second gate from the top which is shown in FIG. 4 has its recess located so that the wire 70 must be set in its 0 position to effect alignment of the recess in the tumbler disc 58a of the second gate with the control rod 65 for the second gate. Consequently, this gate is in a nondiverting position when the wire operator 70 is in its l position. if the operator 70 is moved to position the tumbler 58a for the second gate so that the recess therein will align with the corresponding control rod, the tumbler 58a for the top gate will be moved out of registry with the associated control rod 65 causing it to cam the rocker arm 53 for the top gate to its sheet nondiverting position. It can be readily seen that the code 00l0 could be arbitrarily assigned to the second gate. Similarly other code mechanisms will have a particular permutation assigned thereto. Since there are four tumblers, there is maximum of 16 unique permutations in the illustrated embodiment. The particular permutation assigned to the gates for purposes of explanation have been arbitrary.

From the foregoing it will be understood that in the illustrated embodiment the code tumblers and operators therefore are in accordance with a binary permutation code and that binary code numbers can be assigned to each gate and the gate selected by selectively energizing either the a magnet if the wire operators are to be set in a 1 position or the b magnet if the wire operator is to be set to a 0 position in accordance with the code assigned. For purposes of simplicity, the system adopted is preferably a straight binary number with the gates being numbered from the top and the top gate being designated 000 1.

Refer to FIG. 8. The electromagnets for setting the bistable mechanisms to l to 0 may be controlled by a four stage binary register 100. Each stage of the register may be a flip-flop which is set into one condition or another by a tape reader 104. The tape reader may read a four bit tape, one bit for each stage and develop a l or 1 signal for each bit to set the corresponding stage of the register to l or 0. Each register stage has i and 0 outputs on which signals appear when the stage is set to l and 0 respectively. The electromagnets for each wire operator are associated with one stage of the register and the 1 output may be gated to energize the a magnet and the 0 output may be gated to energize the b magnet.

ln the embodiment shown, a photocell 106 senses the arrival of a sheet at conveyor 12 and actuates the tape reader to read the tape and set the register 100 and to stop to the next row of information so it is ready for the next reading. Such tape readers are conventional. When the sheet reaches the top of conveyor 13 it actuates a second photocell 107 which causes the setting of the register to be gated into the electromagnets for controlling the bistable mechanisms.

It will be understood that the speed of the conveyors and sheet spacing is such that the sheet which effects a setting of the register 100 will reach the second photocell before the following sheet effects a new setting of the register. The following sheet, however, may arrive immediately after the number in the register 100 has set the electromagnets even though the sheet at the conveyor 15 has not yet reached the proper bin. The gating circuitry between the register and the electromagnets prevents the electromagnets from being prematurely energized.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus having means for selectively distributing sheets to a plurality of disposed along a sheet path, a plurality of gate devices to be selectively actuated, each gate device being positioned adjacent a respective outlet, each of said devices having a code number assigned thereto, a plurality of mechanical operators movable to a plurality of position, a plurality of code elements associated with each gate device, each of said operators being mechanically connected to one which corresponds to the position of the operator, respective actuating means for each gate device responsive to a given permutation of the corresponding code element for actuating the corresponding gate device to one position and to other permutations for maintaining the gate device in a different position.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said mechanical operators are bistable mechanisms each set in one position by the energization of one electromagnet and in a second position by the energization of a second electromagnet.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said operators are wires and said code elements are tumblers connected to be set by said wires.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said code elements are tumblers which have recesses herein with the recesses in the tumblers corresponding to each device being aligned when the tumblers are set to the permutation assigned to the device, and said actuating means at each device comprises a member moved from a first position in which it is disposed when the recesses in the tumblers are not aligned to a second position in which it is received in the recesses when aligned.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said operators are wires and each of said operators are set to one position by a corresponding first electromagnet and to a second position by a corresponding second electromagnet.

6. An apparatus having means for distributing sheets selectively to a plurality of bins disposed along a sheet path, each of said bins having a number assigned thereto, a mechanical mechanism for each digit of the number having a stable stage for each digit value, means for registering a number in said mechanical mechanism by setting said mechanism in accordance with the corresponding digit of the number, a sheet gate adjacent each bin, a mechanical code means for each gate, said code means each having code elements connected to be set by said mechanisms to register therein a condition corresponding to the number to which the mechanical mechanisms are set, and means at each gate actuated by the setting of the code means for the gate to a particular number assigned to the gate to actuate the gate to a sheet diverting position and actuated by a change from said particular number to a different number to actuate the gate to a sheet nondiverting position.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said mechanisms are bistable mechanisms and each comprises spaced rocker members, wire operators extending therebetween, and means connecting said operators to said code elements.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said bistable mechanisms each include a first electromagnet energizable to operate it to one position and a second electromagnet energizable to set it to a different position.

9. An apparatus comprising a plurality of bins arranged along a sheet path, gate adjacent each bin and movable from a position clear of the sheet path and a sheet diverting position of diverting a sheet from the path into the adjacent bin, each of said gates having a particular number assigned thereto in accordance with a permutation code, a plurality of operators each settable to any selected one of a plurality of positions in accordance with said permutation code, actuating means operable to set said operators in accordance with the permutation code, code means associated with each gate comprised of a plurality of mechanical code elements each shiftable to a plurality of positions corresponding to the possible settings of said operators, each of said operators being connected to a corresponding code element in each code means to set the code elements into positions in accordance with the position of the operator, and gate actuating means at each gate responsive to the setting of the code elements at the gate to the particular permutation to actuate the corresponding gate to a sheet diverting position and to shift the gate from a sheet diverting position when the permutation of the associated code elements is changed to one different from the particular permutation.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said code elements associated with each gate have a recess therein with the recesses of the code elements corresponding to a gate being disposed along a given line when the elements are set in accordance with the particular permutation for the gate, said gate actuating means for each gate comprising a gate control member adjacent said line and received in said recesses when the recesses are all disposed along said line and moved therefrom to a sheet nondiverting position when a code element for the gate is shifted to destroy the permutation for the gate, and means interconnecting each control member and the corresponding gate for moving the gate between its positions in movement of the control member into and out of the adjacent recesses.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said code elements are levers and said control members are spring urged to ride on the peripheries of the levers for the corresponding gate, said control members normally being held in a sheet non diverting position by at least one of the levers for the corresponding gate unless the recesses of all of the levers for the gate are aligned.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said operators are a plurality of wires and said code elements and wires having interengaging elements thereon for setting the coding elements in accordance with the settings of the wires.

13. In a sheet distributor as defined in claim 9 wherein said actuating means for said operators comprises a plurality of electromagnets, one for each setting of each of said operators whereby the operator may be set to a particular setting by energizing the corresponding electromagnet and means for energizing one of the electromagnets of those associated with each operator to set the operator in accordance with the permutation assigned to a particular gate as a sheet approaches along the sheet path.

14. An apparatus having means for distributing sheets to a plurality of outlets disposed along a sheet path, said apparatus having a code mechanism for operating a gate device between two positions, said gate device being positioned adjacent a respective outlet, said mechanism comprising a group of code elements each settable to a plurality of positions, each of said code elements having a recess therein, a control member movable from a first position in which it is biased and normally held by the periphery of at least one of said elements, said recesses in said elements being alignable along a line adjacent said control member so as to receive the latter by setting said elements to a particular permutation and said control member moving into said recess and to a second position when said recesses are aligned, and connecting means connecting said control member to said device to actuate said device between two positions as said control member moves between its first and second positions respectively.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said connecting means comprises a lever arm on which said control member is mounted, means rockably supporting said lever arm to provide for movement of said control member between its said positions, a rockable shaft connected to the gate to rock the latter upon the rocking of the shaft, and crank means interconnecting said lever arm and said shaft.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 14 in which said elements cam said control rod to its first position when one of said elements is moved from said particular permutation.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N Dated June 22,

Erwin F. C. Schulze Inventor(s) It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 13, "on" should read one Column 5, line 64, after "of" insert outlets line 68, "position" should road positions Column 6, line 9, "herein" should read therein line 25, "stage" should read state line 49, after "path" insert a line 51, "of" should read for Signed and sealed this 16th day of November 1971.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M. FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK At test ing Officer Acting Commissioner of Patents 

1. An apparatus having means for selectively distributing sheets to a plurality of disposed along a sheet path, a plurality of gate devices to be selectively actuated, each gate device being positioned adjacent a respective outlet, each of said devices having a code number assigned thereto, a plurality of mechanical operators movable to a plurality of position, a plurality of code elements associated with each gate device, each of said operators being mechanically connected to one which corresponds to the position of the operator, respective actuating means for each gate device responsive to a given permutation of the corresponding code element for actuating the corresponding gate device to one position and to other permutations for maintaining the gate device in a different position.
 2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said mechanical operators are bistable mechanisms each set in one position by the energization of one electromagnet and in a second position by the energization of a second electromagnet.
 3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said operators are wires and said code elements are tumblers connected to be set by said wires.
 4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said code elements are tumblers which have recesses herein with the recesses in the tumblers corresponding to each device being aligned when the tumblers are set to the permutation assigned to the device, and said actuating means at each device comprises a member moved from a first position in which it is disposed when the recesses in the tumblers are not aligned to a second position in which it is received in the recesses when aligned.
 5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said operators are wires and each of said operators are set to one position by a corresponding first electromagnet and to a second position by a corresponding second electromagnet.
 6. An apparatus having means for distributing sheets selectively to a plurality of bins disposed along a sheet path, each of said bins having a number assigned thereto, a mechanical mechanism for each digit Of the number having a stable stage for each digit value, means for registering a number in said mechanical mechanism by setting said mechanism in accordance with the corresponding digit of the number, a sheet gate adjacent each bin, a mechanical code means for each gate, said code means each having code elements connected to be set by said mechanisms to register therein a condition corresponding to the number to which the mechanical mechanisms are set, and means at each gate actuated by the setting of the code means for the gate to a particular number assigned to the gate to actuate the gate to a sheet diverting position and actuated by a change from said particular number to a different number to actuate the gate to a sheet nondiverting position.
 7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said mechanisms are bistable mechanisms and each comprises spaced rocker members, wire operators extending therebetween, and means connecting said operators to said code elements.
 8. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said bistable mechanisms each include a first electromagnet energizable to operate it to one position and a second electromagnet energizable to set it to a different position.
 9. An apparatus comprising a plurality of bins arranged along a sheet path, gate adjacent each bin and movable from a position clear of the sheet path and a sheet diverting position of diverting a sheet from the path into the adjacent bin, each of said gates having a particular number assigned thereto in accordance with a permutation code, a plurality of operators each settable to any selected one of a plurality of positions in accordance with said permutation code, actuating means operable to set said operators in accordance with the permutation code, code means associated with each gate comprised of a plurality of mechanical code elements each shiftable to a plurality of positions corresponding to the possible settings of said operators, each of said operators being connected to a corresponding code element in each code means to set the code elements into positions in accordance with the position of the operator, and gate actuating means at each gate responsive to the setting of the code elements at the gate to the particular permutation to actuate the corresponding gate to a sheet diverting position and to shift the gate from a sheet diverting position when the permutation of the associated code elements is changed to one different from the particular permutation.
 10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said code elements associated with each gate have a recess therein with the recesses of the code elements corresponding to a gate being disposed along a given line when the elements are set in accordance with the particular permutation for the gate, said gate actuating means for each gate comprising a gate control member adjacent said line and received in said recesses when the recesses are all disposed along said line and moved therefrom to a sheet nondiverting position when a code element for the gate is shifted to destroy the permutation for the gate, and means interconnecting each control member and the corresponding gate for moving the gate between its positions in movement of the control member into and out of the adjacent recesses.
 11. An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said code elements are levers and said control members are spring urged to ride on the peripheries of the levers for the corresponding gate, said control members normally being held in a sheet nondiverting position by at least one of the levers for the corresponding gate unless the recesses of all of the levers for the gate are aligned.
 12. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said operators are a plurality of wires and said code elements and wires having interengaging elements thereon for setting the coding elements in accordance with the settings of the wires.
 13. In a sheet distributor as defined in claim 9 wherein said actuating means for said operators comprises a plurAlity of electromagnets, one for each setting of each of said operators whereby the operator may be set to a particular setting by energizing the corresponding electromagnet and means for energizing one of the electromagnets of those associated with each operator to set the operator in accordance with the permutation assigned to a particular gate as a sheet approaches along the sheet path.
 14. An apparatus having means for distributing sheets to a plurality of outlets disposed along a sheet path, said apparatus having a code mechanism for operating a gate device between two positions, said gate device being positioned adjacent a respective outlet, said mechanism comprising a group of code elements each settable to a plurality of positions, each of said code elements having a recess therein, a control member movable from a first position in which it is biased and normally held by the periphery of at least one of said elements, said recesses in said elements being alignable along a line adjacent said control member so as to receive the latter by setting said elements to a particular permutation and said control member moving into said recess and to a second position when said recesses are aligned, and connecting means connecting said control member to said device to actuate said device between two positions as said control member moves between its first and second positions respectively.
 15. An apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said connecting means comprises a lever arm on which said control member is mounted, means rockably supporting said lever arm to provide for movement of said control member between its said positions, a rockable shaft connected to the gate to rock the latter upon the rocking of the shaft, and crank means interconnecting said lever arm and said shaft.
 16. An apparatus as defined in claim 14 in which said elements cam said control rod to its first position when one of said elements is moved from said particular permutation. 